tribute to J.B.

i got to see what a tribute night is like in the swiss nation. children hailing the work of the godfather of soul – the Great J.B. on the stage a smooth-talking radio host uses the mic like it is an instrument, with words blearing, emotions soaring and the crowd going slightly mad. reminds me of a guy i once saw doing the same with a political student rally. it seems like a world ago, like back in the day, when everything was simpler and prices were lower and politicians were honest (except for the bad guy, of course).
so he brings on stage a mélange of three: a whitey wannabe rapper kid from the (neighbor)hood, a petite girl with a boyish look and long green scarf around her neck, and the tall beyoncenesque blond that everyone has the hots for. and i look at them all.
the guy has his rhymes and the girls have their thang, but it’s a good imitation. only an imitation. you see that they haven’t got the background for the soul (or whatever they are singing, which isn’t exactly what J.B. was doing). but you see the involvement, you see the rehearsals, the talent and the time, the whole production. they’ve been on stage a million times and they’re only 25ish. they are singing about things they’ve never experienced, perhaps the love pain is something they know, but what do you know when you’re 25 and living in one of the safest and most stable societies around. this is switzerland. this is where the taxes are high and poverty is low, this is where everything is settled. this is where existence (to make the distinction from life) is not exciting and where art is a way living – not the outcome of society’s turmoil.
the beer flow and the mass sways. the night is a success. i am thankful and grateful for both the experience and the entertainment. stories were told over the noise and others were created. tomorrow will be another day for sobering up and getting ready for the week ahead. everything is in order, for this is C.H.